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#LoveTheeNotreDame

Matthew Almario | Monday, March 19, 2012

March 7, Stanford Hall and Alumni competed for the men’s interhall hockey championship. Compton Arena was filled with 300 guys from Stanford Hall and Alumni. Vuvuzelas were blaring and Frosh-O chants were roaring. Heated shot after shot was fired at the Alumni defense, but each time the agile Alumni goalie snatched up the puck. Alumni had two quick breakaway goals and things weren’t looking great for the Griffins. However, with continued determination, belief and maybe a little bit of karma, Stanford was able to come back from being down 2-0 with only four minutes left in the game to win 3-2 in overtime. For a more detailed account of the game, ask any Stanford Griffinite.

But I’m not writing to gloat. In fact, I want to thank Alumni and their fans for creating such an electric atmosphere. ESPN probably won’t be showing highlights of this game in the morning and I’m sure this game won’t be mentioned in the all-time greatest games of Notre Dame history.

Tonight, though, will be another great night that will make my time here at Notre Dame priceless. I think a common misconception among students is that “making the most of the Notre Dame experience” entails getting decent grades during the week so that you can party until you drop on the weekends. But in reality, how many times in my life can I watch some of my closest friends, driven by nothing more than passion, pride and a love for the game, compete for a championship title? And all the while surrounded by fellow Stanford Griffins? These moments, the ones that we don’t read in the Notre Dame brochure, are the ones that I believe make my time at Notre Dame so memorable.

And as I went to try and cram for my physio test in the morning (still with a pounding headache from the game), I knew I made another great decision in my collegiate career. Congratulations to my boy Drew Vechell and the rest of the Stanford Hall Men’s Ice Hockey Championship Team! #LoveTheeNotreDame